Good Morning Fellow NCTr's:
Yesterday was one of those trail work days where we had so many experts on hand that I did get to literally stand around and take photos of all the good work that was going on. Jim and Kaye Houk, David Wright, Herb Adams, Boyd and Sharon Brewer, Bill Majernik, Dennis and Cathy Garrett, Doug and Daphne Turner, and Lee and Eleanor Fairbanks all made the trip out to Watt's Mill Sunday afternoon to work on siding the backpacker shelter, GPS our new section of North Country Trail on the west side of the road, enjoy a wienie roast picnic dinner, and socialize and enjoy the sunshine of a beautiful spring afternoon along Little Beaver Creek.
Thank you to everyone who came out to help - we made tremendous progress figuring and cutting those angles to get the siding attached and we're within striking distance of finishing up. A couple more side pieces and some trim work along the edges and we'll be good to go. I did say, "a couple of hours . . . " for trail work yesterday afternoon but we ended up finally making our exit shortly before 8 PM - a solid four hour day. Making those angles work on the shelter, and climbing up the big hill into the Gamelands on a warm, humid, and mosquito-y day were tough.
Thanks again to everyone for all you do!Some photos from the day are here: http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/577689228xNWbwc?start=36 Yesterday's start on the second row.
Below is Cathy Garrett's commentary on the day:
Hello to All -
We had a great Sunday work session out at Watts Mill for the North Country Trail folks from the Wampum Chapter. The Shelter-Raising is getting there, little by little and inch by inch. You know Rome wasn't built in a day!!! ;-] The men were concentrating this past Sunday on getting the rough-hewn siding cut to fit and on just right around the three sides. The floor is all done and the roof is on! It was verified, by Dave Brewer, that there are no leaks. He was out at the beginning of last week and saw first hand that there are no leaks. We were in the throws of one of those "rain of rains" few days... Now, here's a "life is sweet" item at its best! No leaks tells me the people working on the roof installation knew what they were doing!
Anyway, we had 14 people out there on Sunday and things are looking good with respect to the shelter. Eleanor Fairbanks organized another "hot-dog roast with fixin's" for the attendees. Maa Garrett was the other "perpetrator" and we had accomplices that brought along goodies and what-have-yous... Big thanks to all for whatever you brought or did! If anyone is looking for a a hot-dog turning stick for over the fire, see Bill Majernik. he seems to have a half dozen different types of hot-dog or whatever you're thinking of roasting sticks, metal no less. One is the Cadillac of sticks...it runs off batteries and turns around so to roast the dog evenly! Way to go, Bill !!
After all these years, it's about 4 of 'em since we became involved with the NCT because of our property, Watts Mill, we finally got to meet and spend the afternoon with Dave's folks, Sharon and Boyd Brewer. And icing on the cake would be at the end of the evening as Dave's Dad gave him a large hand-made framed, water color rendering of some folks at Watts Mill...very lovely gift and quite a moment for all of us to just experience! Also, Sharon makes a "mean" chocolate chip cookie!!! :-)
Daphne and Doug Turner came from the North Hills area and brought along enough popcorn to feed a movie theater of people!!! Our whole adventure yesterday was like a movie, beautiful backgrounds, the weather cooperated, and the sun going down was one of those you'd have had to been there to experience it, plus everyone knew their lines, and the picnic scene was delightful...if you couldn't be there, I just know this kind of motivation will get you out for the next time as you'll want to be a part of this "movie" as it's more real than most and nice thing is any age can watch it and participate.
Kay Houk brought along some bleu cheese dip and pretzels...tasty item for our picnic. She shared her "trick" of how to get the ground in dirt out of our men's jeans and slacks...good tip to know! (It's equal parts of ammonia and a dish-washing liquid like Dawn and mixed up in a spray bottle...to which you can say, "dirt and grime...go away, and almost by magic they do.") Jim Houk was right in there using his expertise for cutting the wood siding pieces. Wonderful to have them both attend!
The fabricating supervisors, Lee Fairbanks, Dave Brewer, and Dennis Garrett, had more smiles all day long than I though possible for anyone to be having on their faces...just one of those ear-to-ear grinning days at its best! ;-)
Dave Wright and his friend Herb were "busy bees" with the siding put-er-upper men as we women supervised every nail pounded and every line drawn...well, almost every one!!!!!
It's kind of leaving the best thing for last...the good times and the great feeling we get of working together to do this Shelter project are beyond words...it's going to truly make our section of the NCT an inviting area. It's about as basic as you can get...people helping people make a place for all to enjoy and having a good time in the process! Now that's living at its best!
For you Troll affectionados and followers, yes, the whole Troll Family did come out yesterday, even the baby! The oldest Troll, Dabo Brewco, was there in full force...plus the red-haired and the blue-haired young couple were up in one of the trees watching the whole event. I overheard them talking a mile a minute when we were on our way home...seems they are thinking about sending some of the Family down to Watts Mill to live under the shelter...see how they are, and we were worried a tad about keeping things safe there...guess we can now say we've got it covered!
Again.....thanks for everything and all you do to further the NCT...we couldn't do it without you! Take care and stay safe...see you soon out at the Mill.
- Cathy and Dennis Garrett - "Maa and Paa" - and the whole Troll Nation
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